Caladium plant named ‘White Wonder’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘White Wonder’, characterized by its intermediate plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate; and strap-type leaves that are white to grey-green in color with light pink to white-colored veins and dark green-colored borders.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WHITE WONDER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a strap leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘White Wonder’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium cultivars that have uniform plant habit, exceptional performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2002, in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’, not patented. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. on Jun. 15, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by tuber divisions in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘White Wonder’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘White Wonder’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium:

-   -   1. Intermediate plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate.     -   3. Strap-type leaves that are white to grey-green in color with         light pink to white-colored veins and dark green-colored         borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of the parent, ‘White Wing’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are more compact and denser than         plants of ‘White Wing’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘White         Wing’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are more rounded than         and not as pointed as leaves of plants of ‘White Wing’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Wing’ differ in leaf         coloration as plants of ‘White Wing’ have white-colored leaves         with a mottled dark and light green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘Candidum Junior’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Candidum Junior’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium had strap-type leaves whereas         plants of ‘Candidum Junior’ had fancy-type leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Candidum Junior’ differed in         leaf coloration as plants of ‘Candidum Junior’ had white-colored         leaves with green-colored venation and narrow green-colored         borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘Florida White Ruffles’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,402. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Florida White Ruffles’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more upright than plants of         ‘Florida White Ruffles’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida White Ruffles’         differed in leaf coloration as plants of ‘Florida White Ruffles’         had creamy white-colored leaves with creamy white-colored         venation and green-colored borders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘White Wonder’ grown in a container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Wonder’ (top center), ‘Candidum Junior’ (left) and ‘Florida White Ruffles’ (right) grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Wing’ (left) and ‘White Wonder’ (right) grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a top perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Wonder’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-dug tubers and roots of ‘White Wonder’.

The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘White Wonder’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. during the summer in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse and plants grown in ground beds in Zolfo Springs, Fla. during the late summer in an outdoor nursery. All plants were grown under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 26° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants had been growing in the shadehouse for five weeks from planting tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants had been growing in the outdoor nursery for seven months from planting tuber pieces when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wonder’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tubers and by tuber divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             ovate in shape. Height: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 5.2 cm.             Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis,             between 199A and 165C to 165D; interior, close to 2D. Root             description: Dense, thick, fleshy; white, close to 155C, in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright and intermediate plant habit;             inverted triangle; rapid growth rate; vigorous, dense growth             habit; suitable for 15-cm to 25-cm containers. Leaf petioles             arising from tubers; petioles mostly upright and leaning             outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 33 cm to 38 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 46.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 47             cm to 53 cm.         -   Cataphylls (only observed on shadehouse-grown             plants).—Length: About 7.5 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to cuspidate. Base: Sheathing the             stem. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Between 161D and 159B             to 159C often tinged with close to 181D and streaked with             close to 200B to 200C; with development, color becoming             closer to 200C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 19 cm to 23.5 cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown plants (flattened).—About 12 cm to             16.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate to sagittate.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown plants.—Developing leaves, upper             surface: Center: Between 155C and 192D; random diffuse             areas, close to 137A; basal notch, close to between 187C and             59A to 59B. Border and margins: Close to 147A; random             diffuse areas, close to 137A. Venation: Midrib, close to             192B; lateral veins, close to 192A to 192B. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Center: Close to 155C; random diffuse             areas, close to 147B to 147C; basal notch, close to 59A to             59B. Border and margins: Between 147B and 191A; faint and             thin marginal edge, close to 187B. Venation: Midrib, distal,             close to 147D and proximal, close to 158D; lateral veins,             close to 147C to 147D tinged with close to 182D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Center: Close to 155C;             random diffuse areas, close to 147A or 191C; basal notch,             close to 187B to 187D; occasionally with random             spots/streaks, close to 185D. Border and margins: Close to             147A; thin marginal band, close to 187B. Venation: Midrib,             close to 155A to 155B; distal lateral veins, close to 192D;             proximal lateral veins, close to 155B with adjacent             speckles, close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Center: Close to 155C; random diffuse areas, close             to 147B to 147B; basal notch, close to 187B; occasionally             with random spots/streaks, close to 186C to 186D. Border and             margins: Between 191A and 147B; thin marginal band, close to             187B. Venation: Midrib, distal, close to 147C; midrib,             proximal, close to 159C faintly tinged with close to 182D;             distal lateral veins, close to 147C with adjacent speckles,             close to 138B; proximal lateral veins, close to 147C tinted             with close to 182D.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, leaning outwardly with             development. Length, shadehouse-grown plants: About 28 to             35 cm. Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown plants: About             4 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown plants: About             9.5 mm. Color, proximal, shadehouse-grown plants: Between             161D and 159B to 159C often tinged with close to 181D and             boldly striped with between 200B to 200C and N200A. Color,             distal, shadehouse-grown plants: Between 161D and 159B to             159C streaked with between 200B to 200C and N200A. Wing             length, shadehouse-grown plants: About 8 cm. Wing diameter,             shadehouse-grown plants: About 8 mm. Wing color,             shadehouse-grown plants: Between 161 D and 159B to 159C             often tinged with close to 181D and boldly striped or             streaked with between 200B to 200C and N200A. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences only observed on     shadehouse-grown plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape.             Spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones. Female flowers arranged on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix. Sterile flowers develop             between female and male flower zones; near this area, the             spathe constricts surrounding the female flowers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida. Flowers develop about four weeks after             growth commences. Inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 13 cm. Width, distal: About 4.9 cm.             Width, proximal: About 2.8 cm. Width, at constriction: About             8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base:             Tapering. Margin: Entire; slightly reflexed. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Front surface:             Upper two-thirds: Close to 155D tinged with close to 145D;             color becoming closer to 199C to 199D with development.             Lower one-third: Close to 139D; towards the base, deeply             colored with close to N186C; color becoming closer to             between 191A to 191B and 146B variably streaked with close             to 148D with development. Rear surface: Upper two-thirds:             Between 145C to 145D and 155A. Lower one-third: Between 191A             to 191B and 146B variably streaked with close to 148D.             Spadix: Length, entire spadix: About 8.1 cm. Length, male             flower zone: About 5.1 cm. Length, sterile flower zone:             About 1 cm. Length, female flower zone: About 2 cm.             Diameter, male flower zone: About 1.1 cm. Diameter, sterile             flower zone: About 6.5 mm. Diameter, female flower zone:             About 1.1 cm. Shape: Spindle-shaped to columnar. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male             zone: Close to 158A to 158B. Color, mature, sterile zone:             Close to 158A to 158B. Color, mature, female zone: Close to             158B to 158C. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 289.             Shape: Obovate. Height: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Anther color: Close to 158A to 158B. Amount of pollen:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 11D. Female flowers:             Quantity per spadix: About 316. Shape: Obovate. Height:             About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to             158B to 158C. Ovary color: Close to 159D. Scape: Length:             About 34 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Strength: Sturdy;             flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;             glaucous. Color: Proximal: Between 161D and 159B to 159C             boldly striped with between 200B to 200C and N200A. Distal:             Between 146B and 191A to 191B. Seed and fruit: Seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Caladium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to be somewhat tolerant to Pythium root rot and Xanthomonas     leaf spot. Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed to be     resistant to pests or other pathogens common to Caladium. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40°     C. 

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘White Wonder’ as illustrated and described. 